Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 14003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 91

A Great War 'Battle of Loos' Casualty Group of Three to Private H.J. Toon, Leicestershire Regiment, Killed in Action, 13.10.1915
1914-15 Star (3586 Pte. H.J. Toon. Leic: R.); British War and Victory Medals (3586 Pte. H.J. Toon. Leic. R.), nearly extremely fine, with Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque, 'Herbert John Toon' (4)

3586 Private Herbert John Toon, son of Mr and Mrs John Toon, of 79 Frederick Road, Leicester; served during the Great War with the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, on the Western Front; he was killed in action, 13.10.1915; on the latter date the 1/4th Battalion were engaged in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt as part of the Battle of Loos, 'the attack of the 138th Brigade was made with the 1/4th Leicestershire (Lieut.-Colonel R.E. Martin) and 1/5th Lincolnshire (Lieut.-Colonel T.E. Sandall) leading, followed by the 1/4th Lincolnshire and 1/1st Monmouthshire, the divisional Pioneer battalion, and the 1/1st North Midland Field Company R.E.... Having a shorter distance to go than the 137th Brigade, sheltered by the Hohenzollern from machine guns, and starting five minutes later, at 2.5pm, by divisional order so that its flank should be covered, it reached the Hohenzollern with less loss. But in passing towards Fosse Trench, heavy toll was taken of it by the machine guns in the Corons and Mad Point; nevertheless, Fosse Trench was reached and small detachments are reported to have gone beyond it and entered the buildings of the Corons. This success, however, could not be maintained, owing to the fact that the whole length of Fosse Trench was enfiladed from the Dump to Mad point, and on account of the very heavy losses that had been incurred, especially in officers, among the wounded being the Lieutenant-Colonels of the 1/4th Leicestershire, 1/4th Lincolnshire and 1/5th Lincolnshire. Any position beyond Hohenzollern was clearly untenable, as both flanks were exposed, and the attack, although reinforced by two companies of the 1/5th Leicestershire, came to a stop.' (Official History of the War, France and Belgium 1915, Volume 2, refers)

On the latter date the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment suffered 20 officers and 453 other ranks as casualties; Toon is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£320